The Mayors of New Orleans

A Series of Panel Discussions on the History of the Mayoralty since 1946

From October 2009 to January 2010, the Louisiana Humanities Center (LHC) hosted a bi-weekly series of panel discussions on the last seven mayors of New Orleans. Each panel focused on a different mayor, from deLesseps Morrison through Ray Nagin, with scholars, journalists, and former staffers exploring the elections, challenges and legacies of these leaders. The events were free and open to the public.

Over the course of these seven panels, audience members and online viewers listened to first-hand accounts and scholarly interpretations of these seven men and the eras in which they governed. In the months before the 2010 mayoral election, the series generated new interest in city history and contributed to public dialogue and the historical record. Through a partnership with EngageNOLA, a coalition of young professional organizations and individuals dedicated to civic engagement, the series offered a venue for citizens to hear directly from participants and scholars of recent New Orleans political history.